March 18, 2014 – The Goodyear Tire & Rubber
Company’s newest blimp took to the skies Monday
for its maiden flight. The test flight is part
of a comprehensive training program Goodyear
pilots and crew will undergo over the next two
months.

The new blimp will officially be ready to begin
travelling to cities around the United States
after a formal christening ceremony this summer.

The blimp is an all-new, state-of-the-art
version that is larger, faster, more
maneuverable than previous models, and builds on
the company’s legacy as the world’s leading
builder and operator of airships. The blimp’s
speed was on display Monday as the ship, aided
by a tail wind, eclipsed 80 miles per hour.

“The completion of the new blimp marks the
beginning of a new era for our airship program
and reflects Goodyear’s commitment to remaining
at the forefront of aerial broadcast coverage
and support,” said Paul Fitzhenry, senior vice
president, global communications. “This airship
will offer enhanced aerial television coverage
capabilities, increased flight range to cover
more events and an unparalleled passenger
experience.”

Assembly of the new blimp began in March 2013 at
Goodyear’s Wingfoot Lake hangar.An international team of engineers and
technicians from Goodyear and Germany’s ZLT
Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik worked side by side
to complete the build project.

Parts such as the tail fins and gondola were
built in Germany and shipped to the U.S. for
assembly. The balloon-like body of the airship
the “envelope” is made of polyester with an
innovative film from DuPont called Tedlar,
surrounding a semi-rigid internal structure,
which differentiates this airship from previous
Goodyear blimps.

This airship is the first of a new generation of
Goodyear blimps that will be different in construction,
appearance, and operation than the current fleet of
blimps. The new helium-filled airship is 246 feet long,
more than 50 feet longer than the previous blimps and
just 18 yards shorter than an American football field.
The blimp features a new paint scheme while retaining
Goodyear’s logo and traditional blue and yellow branding
on a silver envelope.

The gondola delivers an unparalleled passenger
experience with seating for up to 12 passengers and with
improved viewing through larger, wrap-around windows,
providing sweeping panoramic views. In addition, a new
interior and seating will add to the ride’s comfort.

The new airship incorporates the latest in on-board
avionics and flight control systems. Whereas pilots of
the previous generation of blimps controlled the
airships’ movements with a manual flight system in use
since 1925, the new ship features custom
computer-controlled avionics.Electronic controls work in conjunction with an
on-board computer to regulate engine thrust, up-and-down
movement, and right-and-left movement. Tail fin
operation will be controlled by a joystick device. These
advancements result in more precise operation of the
airship while in flight, on landing, and on take off. In
addition, the new airship has a top speed of 73 miles
per hour, compared to the current maximum of
approximately 50 miles per hour giving the blimp greater
range to cover more events.

In
February, after 14 years of filling the skies, the
longest continuous operated airship, the “Spirit of
Goodyear” airship retired after the Daytona 500. “The
‘Spirit of Goodyear’ has provided captivating aerial
coverage of the biggest televised events in its 14-year
history including many prominent NASCAR races,” said
Paul Fitzhenry, senior vice president, global
communications. “Sports fans around the globe have seen
the ‘Spirit of Goodyear’s’ aerial coverage and Daytona
was an ideal venue to recognize those contributions.”

Goodyear has not yet nemed its new ship and is
inviting the public to participate in a Goodyear
“Name the Blimp” contest.One name will be chosen from the entries and
the contest winner will join the Goodyear Blimp for
a day of airship activities.